FAQs

The 'Milkround' recruitment process is the term given to the period when ALG seeks to recruit for our Trainee Solicitor Programme. It generally takes place from September to October each year. ALG will deliver presentations or webinars and attend career fairs on campus during this time. You can view our upcoming events here.

You can discuss the prospect of a traineeship with our Graduate Talent team by contacting us here. We are also happy to organise a chat over coffee with your interviewers, a current trainee solicitor or another one of the firm's partners or lawyers.

Our annual Milkround recruitment process opens for applications at the beginning of September each year and closes mid-October. Additionally, many of our trainee solicitors are recruited through our Summer Internship Programme, as all of our summer interns are guaranteed an interview for our Trainee Solicitor Programme.

All final year students, postgraduates and those who have successfully obtained a third level degree qualification can apply for the Trainee Solicitor Programme.

No. You will be required to attend just one interview. Click here to view our top interview tips. These tips are designed to give you a general focus for your interview preparation.

Each interviewee will be interviewed by a two-person panel.

The number varies from year to year, but normally we recruit approx. 40–50 trainee solicitors per annum. It is important for us to support the firm’s resourcing strategy by taking in top-calibre trainee solicitors who we hope will stay with the firm in the long term. We are focused on ensuring all trainee solicitors have a positive experience with ALG whereby each trainee solicitor has all the support and training they need during their traineeship. Therefore, we monitor our intake numbers to ensure we can deliver a quality traineeship to those who have been offered a position with the firm.

We will be recruiting for trainees to join our 2027 Trainee Solicitor Programme onwards.

Yes. We try to accommodate any preferences trainee solicitors may have and, in most cases, we can accommodate trainee interests.

Trainee solicitors will work in some of our main departments, namely: Commercial Property, Corporate and M&A, Corporate Taxation, Disputes & Investigations, ESG, Finance, Pensions, and Pro Bono.

Yes. Our trainees have the opportunity to complete a rotation in our Pro Bono practice. Our Pro Bono trainees work closely with charities, not-for-profit organisations and Pro Bono partners in managing and providing this service. The rotation helps them to develop skills in client care, project management and, most importantly, legal research, drafting and advocacy. Find out more about our Pro Bono practice here.

We have an excellent retention rate; it is on average 95–100%.

Our official start date is in April of each year.

Challenging yourself outside of your comfort zone means that you can bring something more to the table as a trainee solicitor. Your life experience will help you adjust to the challenges that a traineeship brings and often helps you cope when in pressurised situations, so yes, we encourage future trainee solicitors to go out and sample some of what life has to offer before beginning a traineeship, but it’s not a prerequisite and is very much a personal decision.

Our position is that it's very much something for you to decide upon. We provide full training for all trainee solicitors. In conjunction with the Professional Practice courses run by the Law Society of Ireland, you will be fully prepared for life as a corporate lawyer when you qualify. Therefore, having a Master's degree is not a prerequisite to getting an offer from ALG. Doing a Master's is an expensive undertaking and whilst there is certainly no negative impact in doing a Master's (our view is that all knowledge is helpful), applicants should not feel that they 'need' to have a Master's to get into ALG. It is very much a personal decision.

Yes. Once you commence your traineeship, all Law Society fees will be paid in full.

The firm will pay for one sitting per FE-1 exam (eight in total) upon the trainee joining the firm, provided they complete these per the terms of their contract.

All trainee solicitors complete four 'rotations' or 'seats', spending approximately six months in four different practice areas. Our current training contract is structured as follows:

• Seat 1: April–September 2027
• Fused PPC: September 2027 – June 2028
• Seat 2: June 2028 – December 2028
• Seat 3: January 2029 – June 2029
• Seat 4: July 2029 – December 2029
• Qualification: January 2030

Students often ask how they can differentiate themselves on their application form. Most application forms have a limit on the amount of information you can put in each section. Therefore, it's important to choose your words carefully and to be clear and concise. It is also very important to think about exactly what you are putting on your application and what a corporate law firm might look for/expect in a candidate. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Research ALG, our practice areas and clients.
• Demonstrate genuine motivation for commercial law.
• Use specific examples when answering competency questions.
• Apply the STAR method.
• Proofread your application carefully.
• Highlight leadership, teamwork and extracurricular achievements.
• Show commercial awareness through current business and legal developments.
• Prepare examples of challenges, achievements and learning experiences.
• Be authentic rather than trying to give a "perfect" answer.

Click here to view our top application tips. These tips are designed to give you a general direction on the application process.